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Top Ten Mutinous Music Moments

When I was a rebellious little punk teenager, the only Brown I saw on stage at shows was Tony Kanal playing bass in No Doubt. And he was dating bindi wearing Gwen Stefani, who was by far the coolest rock chick ever. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon Sepia Mutiny as a reader that I noticed other punk, alterno, progressive musicians – the most prominent one being of course, M.I.A.

Here we are in the last week of Sepia Mutiny. On these pages as a reader, I’ve discovered some of my favorite songs and as a writer, I’ve gotten to interview some of the most amazing people. I’ve loved discovering new Desi music and examining musicians exploration of hyphenated identities through lyric, music and movement.

Since I love lists – what better way to remember this then… a Top Ten Favorite Mutinous Music Moments.

Mandeep Sethi – He came aisee taisee out of nowhere and is a hip hop artist, filmmaker, producer, South Asian musical networker collaborating w/ everyone and is now in India establishing the first Indian B-Boy crew, SlumGods. All before hitting the age of 24, of course.

So there you have it – my top favorite musical moments of Sepia Mutiny, though there are many more interviews I conducted that I wish I could have included in this list. But these are just my personal faves – I’m sure you all must have your favorites too! Drop them in the comments. It has been an absolute pleasure finding music for the mutiny.

About Taz

Taz is an activist, organizer and writer based in California. She is the founder of South Asian American Voting Youth (SAAVY), curates MutinousMindState.tumblr.com and blogs at TazzyStar.blogspot.com. Follow her at twitter.com/tazzystar

8 thoughts on “Top Ten Mutinous Music Moments”

Slumdog Millionaire – I became aware of this film just before reading about it on SM. Slumdog Millionaire is the Hipster’s idealization of India, and it’s their excuse on why they think their knowledge and practice of Eastern philosophy is more intellectuallly and spiritually pure than what we do.

You guys had a way of liberating my inner Malcolm X. When these hipsters here in Boston, with their Om sign and yoga pants, disdain me because I wasn’t born in a refugee camp or I don’t plan (or have the inclination/ability) to attend Harvard to study Hinduism (after all, tenured professors know more about Hinduism than those Indians who do hipsterish things).

Also, let me eulogize on SM one more: I didn’t realize that there were commonalities in experience, views, etc. amongst all of us American-Raised-Indians.

I haven’t commented in years, due to a demanding work schedule and more restrictive internet use ;0) but I have continued reading on a regular basis. I cannot put into words how much this community has meant to me. It has allowed me to articulate a texture to my pride in being a South Asian American. And as a mixed Desi-American, the Mutiny let me participate in and identify with my roots in a way that I had never been able to do before. I started reading in 2004 when I felt too shy to join in, but slowly I remembered that I too belong to the South Asian community both here and in real life. I can’t say anything else except “thank you” and “this will be missed.” I hope you all choose to maintain the site without updating it so that all of us shy lurkers have a touchstone to return to. Thank you thank you thank you.

Been looking for you for days, even upturning all of the artfully placed junk I could find. Please find the obligatory shoutout and promise to stay in touch! Who else am I going to talk to about Kraftwerk and musclecars??

They all pretty much suck. Hipsters idealization of India is not S-dog Crorepati. Its more like, “oooh India is so mystical and pure. They worship women and are so holy. Maybe we be fortunate enough to be born there in our next life. India rules, we love desis and its politically incorrect to suggest they might be as fucked up as anyone else, if not more”.

I just listened to “Fake Patois” by Das Racist and if ever there was an award for worst fake patois ever, it’d go to them. Its so bad they don’t even manage to sound Irish, which is what most fake patoisers end up sounding like.

Hey Ram! I feel I must take snan fully clothed 108 times in the Ganga to clear my mindscape from this horrific samskara.

Taz, you missed out on Kim Thayil, guitar player for Soundgarden, who was another Brown person on stage in the 90s. Also, I guess you and I must move in different music circles, as there are a bunch of established brown bands that were never featured in Sepia Mutiny (possibly because they don’t hip-hop or play alternative- type music ). E.g. Vedic metal pioneers Rudra, who have been playing for almost 20 years and released 7 albums so far. Then there’s Deux Ex Machina, Moksha, Parikrama, Silman Marak etc.